PRESS

Long-time regulars at Sixth Street Bistro and Pub might remember that loft. The restaurant -formerly “6th Street Bistro and Loft” – has been a downtown anchor since the building was constructed in 1985. Chris and Stacie Creasy, owners since 2009, held a street party this month to mark 25 years as 6th Street (see chronology, below).

The Pacific Northwest, and Hood River specifically, have the farm to table niche down nicely. With many local options, deciding on some yummy nosh can be a difficult decision. Fortunately, it’s a good problem to have! Here in Hood River, Sixth Street Bistro is a staple for tourists and locals alike.

Hood River’s multifaceted climate is a little like Sochi’s – only without palm trees. Popularized as a windsurfing destination in the 1980s, this waterfront town in the Columbia River Gorge is blessed with mild to balmy temperatures nine months of the year, while nearby Mount Hood never runs out of snow.

I know I’m not alone when I confess that I have a love/hate relationship with the Hood River. What I love about the river is the opportunity to catch a chrome-bright steelhead from its swift and turbid waters nearly any month of the year. But fresh steelhead prove especially appealing in winter.